Posted on 08/25/2005 4:21:37 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Aug. 25, 2005 After spending most of the last 24 hours meeting airmen at an air base in Southwest Asia, a group of comedians led by television star Drew Carey arrived here early today to entertain the troops. Along with Carey, comedians Dave Mordal, Jimmy Shubert, Steve Byrne and Pedro Hernandez are on the tour.
On a whirlwind day Aug. 24, the comics met, signed autographs for and posed for pictures with hundreds of airmen assigned to the Air Force's 379th Expeditionary Wing before boarding a C-130 transport for the five-hour flight to Bagram.
Today, the comics are scheduled to perform at Methar, Jalalabad and Asadabad forward operating bases in Afghanistan before returning for a performance at Bagram's "clam shell" on Aug. 26.
The tour is the first partnership between Defense Department's Armed Forces Entertainment and DoD's America Supports You program. It's a way to bring the America Supports You message directly to the troops, said Brian Natwick of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, which oversees the ASY program.
America Supports You showcases the efforts of everyone from ordinary citizens to powerful corporations in supporting the nation's men and women serving in the global war on terror, Natwick said, and it's important that people in uniform know about that support.
"So entering a partnership with Armed Forces Entertainment is natural for us," Natwick explained. "This tour, along with other things we're planning, will help us communicate to the troops how much the nation values their service," he said.
Armed Forces Entertainment usually works in concert with the United Service Organizations in bringing big-name entertainment to troops overseas, explained Marine Capt. Jesse Davidson, AFE's Southwest Asia circuit manager. But AFE also works on its own to provide a steady stream of both famous and lesser-known, but talented, performers to the nation's armed forces and their families living outside the United States.
"We've had everything from Frisbee-catching dogs to magicians to jazz bands," Davidson said.
Go Drew!
No such thing as an EX-Marine, unless he's disgraced himself. My CFI was a Marine, and instructed me to say former Marine.
God bless Drew Carey - he's one of my favorites.
I used to work with Andy Adducchio's problem Ben.
I used to work with Andy Adducchio's BROTHER Ben.
I can't believe I wrote problem LOL
I saw him in Oman in 2002. Wonderful guy. My buddy saw the band Dishwalla while deployed also, good guys too.
Bump for Drew
"That's right, the points don't matter ... just like what Cindy Sheehan and the rest of the Socialist Left."
LOL - I think you're correct in that assumption! I have to admit...I just love a man in a military uniform! I think that's because I grew up as an AF brat :-)
To this day, I'll pull out my dad's flight suit and smell it...it brings back vivid memories of him coming home off of the flightline, along with a childhood full of patriotic, good people. (sorry it that's weird)!
LOL - Freudian?
LOL
he was a nice guy, but he knew how to goof off and screw around like any good E-3.....
Thanks!!! Great find.
"That's right, the points don't matter ... just like what Cindy Sheehan and the rest of the Socialist Left."
i thought he was libertarian?
Conservative/Losertarian....they are only a legalized drug or open border apart.
BTW, I catch Drew reruns every night on UHF, and saw the one last night with Rush Limbaugh. I remember when Rush did that, and he talked about how nice everyone was to him and that they told him they actually listened to his show. On most TV sets, turning on Rush would probably get you fired, or at least shipped off to socialist reeducation camp.
Note to Hanoi Jane: You're supposed to sit in your own country's gun mount, not the enemy's.
She was sitting in her own country's gun mount.
My Resrve Unit at Andrews has flown Drew and the USO to Afghanistan for three years now.
He's a Class Act, all the way around!
Doesn't put on airs or have an attitude.
Instantly becomes "One of the Guys" on and off the plane.
Good On You, Drew!
Jack.
BTT!!!!!
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